Welcome to our forum. A Message To Our New and Prospective Members . Check out our Forum Rules. Lets keep this forum an enjoyable place to visit.
Currently working on getting badges to show up horizontally. Should hopefully figure that out within a week. Thanks for your patience.

AAA
Avatar
Please consider registering
guest
sp_LogInOut Log Insp_Registration Register
Register | Lost password?
Advanced Search
Forum Scope




Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
sp_Feed Topic RSSsp_TopicIcon
Arrangements, tweaks and mash-ups
The ethics and responsibilities of using others' work
Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 (2 votes) 
Avatar
Peter
West Sussex, England UK
April 27, 2020 - 7:30 am
Member Since: September 27, 2019
Forum Posts: 378
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline



I'm a beginner at this, and I want to get much better.

I use classic pieces in my repertoire and practice, and oftentimes I wish to change the music to suit my ability and / or taste. What are my responsibilities and obligations toward the original composer and any subsequent arranger?

I have a clear idea about copyright (most of my musical interests are now public domain), but what about accreditation, and what is considered 'good form' when adapting a piece?

I sense a general style when attribution is given at the head of the piece, but often the most recent 'editor' has not applied their own name to the changes. What gives here?

Your thoughts, opinions and referenced information are much appreciated.

Peter

"It is vain to do with more that which can be done with less"  - William of Ockham

"A crown is merely a hat that lets the rain in" - Frederick the Great

Avatar
BillyG
Brora, North-east Scotland
April 27, 2020 - 12:03 pm
Member Since: March 22, 2014
Forum Posts: 3746
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline










I don't know "what is normally expected" - but - certainly for my part - I often take pieces from various sources (again, of course being attentive to any copyright issues) - and I invariably give accreditation to the source I obtained it from.  That is only fair.   Very often, that can be something as simple as "Found on http://www.thesession.org" with an actual link to the item - or if it is more specific, naturally I'll credit the original composer (even if long passed-on, or even if out-of-copyright).   

I believe there is a "fair way" to work with copyrighted stuff - and I have approached some copyright owners (or their representatives) in the past - and generally there has been no problem at all.    I always explain (a) that my use of the piece is non-commercial, (b) it will (if I publish it on YouTube etc) be in the "Educational" category as distinct from the YT "Music" category (which, I already know attracts largely baseless and completely crass and stupid copyright claims by so-called AI algorithms) (c) promise to honour by accreditation the original composer or work.

If I "publish" something related to the piece other than a performance (indeed, such as the score I posted earlier today for Kelvin Grove) I will always add my own name - not for purposes of kudos or anything - simply so the score, once it is out-in-the-wild in the public domain, is traceable to some extent.

I understand your desire to be as honourable and fair as possible in these matters, and that is a Good Thing!  hats_off

I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh - guntohead.JPG

Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)

Avatar
Peter
West Sussex, England UK
April 28, 2020 - 9:33 am
Member Since: September 27, 2019
Forum Posts: 378
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline



Thanks, Bill; I guess I'm overthinking the issue.

There are so many levels on integrity in the music publishing / reuse / dispersal sphere in our age that it is difficult to cage one's moral compass in the face of of it all.

Peter

"It is vain to do with more that which can be done with less"  - William of Ockham

"A crown is merely a hat that lets the rain in" - Frederick the Great

Forum Timezone: America/New_York
Most Users Ever Online: 696
Currently Online: Mouse
Guest(s) 92
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Members Birthdays
sp_BirthdayIcon
Today eugenephilip572
Upcoming PaTooDoNaLD, Almandin, Picklefish, Tammy, UtahRoadbase, goettjp, Griff, ElisaDalViolin, sus49, Ogre, djroger, marcnaz, Cleverpun, Faith, The Modesto Kid, Burnett393
Top Posters:
ELCBK: 8873
ABitRusty: 4309
Mad_Wed: 2849
Gordon Shumway: 2760
Barry: 2690
Fiddlestix: 2647
Oliver: 2439
stringy: 2411
DanielB: 2379
Mark: 2274
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 3
Members: 31761
Moderators: 0
Admins: 8
Forum Stats:
Groups: 16
Forums: 84
Topics: 10864
Posts: 138073
Newest Members:
Miadae30, ThomasTheBard, F7b5, Llwyarch, Ken Ruhnke, jeni2024, Goldenbow, joanie, hunmari01, lydia.vertu SP
Administrators: Fiddlerman: 16539, KindaScratchy: 1760, coolpinkone: 4180, BillyG: 3746, JoakimSimplePress: 0, MrsFiddlerman: 2, Jimmie Bjorling: 0, Mouse: 6114